Project Report – Utthan

Action-Programme Name: Inspecting the wells, solar pumps and shade nets dug for agriculture in Shubhadhara  village and visiting the farmers.

To know more about this SIF Project, follow the link – Project Utthan 

Name of Co-Project Organization- Haritika Org., Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

Background of Subhadara village and its farmers

Shubhdhara is a village in Shahabad taluka of Baran district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is 8 km from sub-district headquarters Shahabad (tehsildar’s office) and  85 km from district headquarters Baran. As of 2009, Shubhdhara village is also a gram panchayat. The total area of the village is 520 hectares. Shubdhara village has a total population of 1,179, of which 589 are males and 590 females. Shubhdhara village has an average literacy rate of 43.51%, of which 56.20% are male and 30.85% female literate. Shubdhara village has about 296 households. 

In Shubhadhara village, most of the population of the village belongs to Scheduled Tribes (Scheduled Tribes) while Scheduled Castes (SCs) make up 99.49% of the total population.The men of this village spend their daily lives in gambling and drinking in addition to farming. The farmers here have a large amount of agricultural land but due to lack of water  , the people cannot do farming properly. In partnership with Save Indian Farmers, we’ve dug three wells to provide sustainable water access for local farmers. Additionally, a shednet/greenhouse has been constructed to support summer farming. Furthermore, five farmers have been equipped with solar pumps, enhancing their irrigation capabilities with renewable energy solutions. Together, these efforts aim to promote agricultural sustainability and empower rural communities.

Report Observations

At present, three wells in Shubhadara have been constructed by Save Indian Farmers. Till date, the water of these three wells is used collectively by the farmers, so the farmers also take summer leafy vegetables and crops along with monsoon farming. Currently, a significant quantity of soybean crop has been planted, along with rice ranking second in terms of cultivation. Additionally, millet, maize, wheat, and sierso crops have been cultivated in various areas. The successful cultivation of rice, previously unattempted, has been made feasible through the utilization of the well for irrigation purposes, facilitated by diesel pumps. This agricultural diversification underscores the transformative impact of sustainable water management practices. 

The following wells were inspected by Mr. Prafulla Sutar, representative of Save Indian Farmers Foundation and concerned farmer Mr. Shravan and Representative of Haritika org. Pappu Patel

Shaenet/Greenhouse

Shadenets have not been used for the last two-three years. 

Farm bunds

Farm bunds built on the side of the farm are still visible. Due to this farm bunds, the soil in the field remains in the field. They appeared to some extent. 

Solar Pump

The farmer to whom the solar pump was given has kept it at home because the equipment may malfunction and be stolen, so the pumps and solar plates have been kept at home. You can see the photo taken with the farmer below. 5 Farmers use this solar pump together. From October to April-May, solar pumps are kept in the field. He thanked Save Indian Farmers for the light bill cost as well as the ease of watering the farm. 

Solar pump farmers have demanded the pipes from Save Indian Farmers as the pipes required for agriculture are old and broken. Farmers have to work hard because the pipes to supply water to the agriculture are broken in many places.

In collaboration with Save Indian Farmers, farmers in Shubhadara have also brought more than 100 acres of land under wetlands. The construction of wells has solved the water problem of the farmers, which has made enough water available for the farmers to grow two seasonal crops.

Names of beneficiary farmers

Sr.No	Name of  beneficiary  farmer	address	Area(s)	Benefits received
1	Shravan Mathu Saharia and 15 other farmers	Shubhdhara	20	well
2	Kanhaiya Samaliya Saharia and 20 other farmers	Shubhdhara	25	well
3	Saimu Shankar Saharia and 10 other farmers	Shubhdhara	15	well
4	Shriram Rupaji Saharia	Shubhdhara	5	Solar pumps

 

Author
Mr. Prafulla Sutar
Operations Manager, Save Indian Farmers Foundation
E-mail:  prafulla@saveindianfarmers.org